I’m A Celebrity viewing figures plunge even lower as fans boycott Nigel Farage

The figures keep going down

This is reportedly all down to the inclusion of controversial politician, Nigel Farage, who has been paid an alleged £1.5 million to appear on the show.

The move is said to have massively backfired for ITV bosses after the opening night's ratings dropped by millions compared to the 2022 series.

The first show of the 2023 season saw Farage getting messy during a challenge in the outback. This episode received a peak audience of 7.8 million and an average of 7 million.

Last year, the peak was 10 million, with an average of 9.1.

It's believed the reason the figures are so low is down to the massive boycott of the show prompting ITV bosses to reportedly hold a crisis talk.

Hitting out at Ant and Dec, one former viewer wrote: "Sorry boys, not this year. You’ve let a lot of people down with your choice of a certain camp mate. I’m giving you no airtime at all and you should really make a stand and refuse to host. #BoycottImACelebrity."

Another fumed: "Get Farage out of there and I'll start watching it. First ever series I've not watched. #BoycottImACelebrity".

A third added: "First year I've not watched, literally can't stand to look at Farage, just can't do it. An obscene fee paid for him too, crazy. #BoycottImACelebrity #BoycottImACeleb."

Action group Best For Britain – tackling issues we face post-Brexit – called for a boycott, saying on their website: “ITV is building the profile of a man whose only claim to fame is stoking divisions.

"The decision to pay Nigel Farage £1.5m is incompatible with ITV’s values. It’s time to ask Ant & Dec if they’re comfortable presenting a programme promoting this man, and to pledge not to watch until Farage is ruled out.”

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